EXCLUSIVE: Actor Jake Abel is frontrunner to play one of the two male lead roles inThe Host, the adaptation of the science fiction novel by Twilight author Stephenie Meyer that will star Saoirse Ronan and be directed by Andrew Niccol, who wrote the script. Negotiations are expected to begin soon. Abel was chosen from among a group of young thesps and he is negotiating for the role of Ian. The other male lead role of Jake is down to a small circle of actors including Liam Hemsworth (also a finalist to play Bruce Willis’s son in A Good Day To Die Hard), Max Irons, Kit Harington and Jai Courtney. Abel has starred alongside Ronan in The Lovely Bones, and his other recent credits include I Am Number Four and Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Open Road acquired the film for domestic distribution. Abel’s repped by UTA and Anthem Entertainment.

25 Comments

Man, Andrew Niccol. Drinking the Kool-Aid. That guy used to be a filmmaker.

Cracker • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

What does this mean for In Time 2????

Jimmy • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

enough with throwing Lame Hemsworths name in the mix of things to gin up publicity, the kid sucks and is not getting parts on merrit. He’s mr. miley cyrus and that’s it.

T • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

He’s basically the female Blake Lively

Just askin • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Maybe he’s getting it on his knees or the couch…isn’t that how pretty men get their parts in Hollywood?

bp • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Based on looks, I think he’s a good match, I have yet to see him act though :) Excited for this movie!

yu-ma • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Saoirse Ronan and Anrew Niccol in combined project its all that i need now. I hope film will be good.

Jill • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

I hope this kid can act.

Brenda Maxx • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Saoirse Ronan is a gifted actor. She’s far above the CW trash being shoved down our throats in every box office bomb out there.

Why she accepted this project is questionable?????
See: Atonement, The Lovely Bones or Hanna.

She’s also very attractive with a great set of acting chops.

Jill • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Brenda, wtf are you talking? I was commenting on Jake Abel but since you brought her up I’ll guess I’ll comment.

Her affiliation to this “questionable” project is because she probably found the script and the chance to play a dual role very interesting. Looks like the role of Melanie/Wanda won’t be an easy one for the average actor, nor have roles been this interesting lately for young female actors. Also the script was written by Andrew Niccol who’s strength is sci-fi. The Host being part sci-fi, and having Niccol both write and direct one would understand why she signed on.

mrswinchester24 • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Yeah, he can act. I’m a huge “Supernatural” fan and in order for me to approve of him, he had to nail the role he played (the 3rd Winchester). Trust me, playing a “Winchester” is a big deal for SN fans and the fact tons of people accepted him in the role means he’s got something. Plus, many people have re-cast the “Percy Jackson” movie but usually they leave him in his role because they liked him there :)

d.miami • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Lovely Bones was utter garbage (see critical score and angry fan reactions) and Hanna was Universal Soldier for teens. Also, The Host is better than twilight and all Twilight books including the dreadful Breaking Dawn are better than Selbold`s overrated cash-in on personal tragedy. Worst book I ever read.

Jill • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

@ d.miami. LOL. Give me a break.

“Lovely Bones was utter garbage (see critical score and angry fan reactions) and Hanna was Universal Soldier for teens. Also, The Host is better than twilight and all Twilight books including the dreadful Breaking Dawn are better than Selbold`s overrated cash-in on personal tragedy. Worst book I ever read.”

Wait, what does Ronan’s involvement with TLB and Hanna, which you clearly disdain, have to do with how good of a book The Host is and bad of a book TLB is? Nada.

Anyways, TLB the movie basically was doomed because the critics universally panned it while the book fans were never going to be happy so their opinion on whether or not its a good movie (not so much if its a good adaption) is irrelevant. And if the only thing you got from Hanna was “Universal Soldier” for teens and fail to ignore its acclaim and its moderate BO success, well you’re a lost cause.

The reasons for your rantig:
A) you don’t like Sebold
B) you don’t like Ronan playing the lead

zac • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

The book is rubbish, the screen play is even bigger rubbish. With Andrew Niccol writing and directing the actors involved are doomed. This Jake kid looks nothing like Ian should, Ian is described as hot and sexy, this doof is neither. Don’t get me started on the Hemsworth hanger on. “rolls eyes”

Boots • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

From a female perspective – this guy IS hot and sexy. Take time to watch any of the big screen films this guy is in, he is great! He is also the 3rd Winchester brother! Maybe you are the DOOF!

Smartalec • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Jake Abel! He is SO talented! Can’t wait for this movie!

Till • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Come on guys, this guy is the 3rd Winchester Brother!! He’s hot and can act!

Theo • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Well atleast things seem to be working out for him and his brother. I think that Chris is a better actor but clearly Liam has something that Hollyweird is looking for… Let’s hope that Hollyweird knows what it is doing and it’s standards haven’t dropped…much

C • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

What is it with Stephenie Meyer and the name “Jake”? One of her main (unintentionally) repulsive characters in Twilight is named that, one of the main ones in this dreck is, and now they’ve cast a lead with the name, too? Weird.

Gabi • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

The other main male lead’s name is actually Jared, not Jake. Unless they’ve changed it for the movie. I think Mr. Fleming mistyped, since he was just writing about the actor (anybody could do that by accident).

I actually liked this novel a lot more than I liked Twilight, but I can’t seem to get excited for the movie.

Kerbear • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Jake is an up and coming and only getting better with every role and part he plays, this is gonna be a great one to see if he is in it!!

mrswinchester24 • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Jake Abel will nail this. It’s about time he got cast in a bigger role. He was cast as a younger third Winchester in “Supernatural.” When I realized they were going to find a 20-year old Winchester, I knew he would either be the hottest thing ever or a complete fail. It was the former.

Margaret • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Great publicity pic – he was great in ‘Supernatural’. Looked completely different then in ‘I Am Number Four’.

Chris Christopherson • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Jake Abel? The third Winchester? Ohh man this movie is going to be great, when is it coming out? This guy is one hell of an actor, if you don’t agree check out the Percy Jackson flick.

dee • on Nov 8, 2011 6:32 pm

Oh, here we go again! Stop trashing Stephanie and her brilliant books! She knows what she is doing! Saw The Lovely Bones and it was a very good movie! I found The Host to be very good, but a little complicated to read. Had to really pay attention. But it got easier and I really liked the book a lot especially the romance! But it is not as good as the Twilight Saga! Nothing can match up to that! Here I am on a Twilight app having to take up for my movie!!!!! WTH! Get off this app if you are gonna slam Twilight! It is not trash, but you are starting to sound like you are, by being so cruel and hateful! And leave The Host alone too!! Will you ever learn how to treat other people that love their movies and have a right to with respect? What is it with you? You are so ignorant,sorry! So sick of this! Can’t even go on an app I got so I can enjoy hearing nice comments about Twilight and Breaking Dawn! Check out the tent city they already got going in L.A. it’s getting very impressive! How old are you anyway? I know I’m older than you!